Chapter 22 #2
‘You shouldn’t feel sorry for her at all,’ said Gina, placing her hand over Tess’s and tapping it in a gesture of support.
‘Melody should have known what she was signing up for when she got involved with a married man. In sickness and in health, and all that. She can’t take all the positive things and not accept the downsides too.
’ Gina gave a careless shrug. ‘Really, though, I’m glad Charles is getting better.
You know, he and I have always had a tricky relationship.
’ She gave an apologetic wince. ‘But I would never want anything bad to happen to him.’
That was so true. There was no love lost between the pair of them.
Charles had always disapproved of Gina, calling her frivolous and flighty, and Gina hadn’t spoke highly of Charles either, labelling him pompous and controlling.
Their mutual dislike hadn’t really bothered Tess, she’d found it mildly amusing, but now she had to wonder if there was more to their antagonism than she had previously realised.
‘Anyway, Dilly and I were just chatting and we thought it was about time we got away for a short break, the four of us. Somewhere by the sea. A couple of nights of wine, good food and conversation, and some daytime bracing walks by the coast. What do you think?’
Tess’s attention was momentarily distracted by the busy comings and goings of the bar. It looked as though the second half of the evening’s entertainment was about to get underway.
‘Please say yes,’ said Dilly in her imploring manner, clasping her hands together hopefully. ‘I’ve not had the chance to get away in ages, and I’ve always been so envious when you’ve spoken about your trip to Annecy. It sounded like so much fun.’
‘It really was!’
Tess, Gina and Suzy had spent a rejuvenating few days in the French alpine town, earlier in the year, bonding over their love of the great outdoors and enjoying all the good food and wine on offer.
It was the first time in years that they’d been able to sit down and properly share their thoughts and hopes for the future as they each navigated a new path in their lives.
Then, they’d pledged to get away more often, to make quality time for their friendship, which was becoming more important to them all as they grew older.
With Dilly welcomed into the fold now, and the autumnal season well and truly upon them, it was probably time for them to take their next trip.
‘Sounds good to me,’ she agreed, before she was shushed by Rob with a finger to his lip, as the next act took to the stage.
* * *
Carol had been right; the acts in the second half were much more accomplished and had more stage presence than those who had gone before, but whether the increasingly convivial atmosphere around the bar and the ever-flowing drinks contributed to the positive response to the performances, Tess couldn’t be sure.
All she knew was that everyone around their table seemed to be having a great time, rocking along to the music, especially when a band took to the stage and started playing a melody of popular tunes that everyone knew and could sing along to.
‘Are you having fun?’ Rob whispered in her ear, the sensation of his breath on her skin sending all sorts of sensations along the length of her body.
‘Yes, this is great.’ Tess had pushed Keith’s rogue comments to one side.
What would be the point of dwelling on them, especially when the older man seemed not to be the most reliable of witnesses?
She wouldn’t allow him to spoil her fun, even if inadvertently.
Besides, there was such an electric buzz about the air tonight that she wanted to be an active part of it.
She turned to look at Rob’s handsome profile, a light in his eye as his shoulders moved in sync with the music.
‘This was such a good idea. We’ll have to come along again. ’
After the band had finished their set to rapturous applause, George stepped forward, took over the microphone and addressed the crowd.
‘Right, well I think you’ll agree that we’ve been spoilt tonight with some great performances from local artistes.
Who knew that there was so much talent in our area, and I’d like to thank you all for coming along and being so supportive to our performers because as you can imagine, it must be a pretty nerve-wracking thing to do.
Some of these people are getting up on a stage for the first time tonight and I’m sure you’d all like to join me in congratulating them on that. ’
There was a collective whooping, hollering and cheering from the assembled crowd, and the beginning of a chant for more.
‘Don’t worry,’ said George, holding up a palm to the group. ‘We’re not finished yet. We still have a couple of acts for your delectation. So, first up, we have a late entry.’ He consulted his clipboard. ‘Please give a very big welcome to… Danny Bryant.’
Everyone at the table looked around, wondering from which direction this musician would be coming from, until the penny dropped for Tess and Rob, almost at the same time, as they realised that their Danny, the one currently easing himself up from the table, was about to perform.
He gratefully accepted the offered guitar from one of the earlier performers.
‘Did you know?’ Tess whispered to Rob.
‘Not at all,’ he said, shaking his head in bemusement. ‘This is a complete surprise to me, but then again, Danny is always full of surprises.’
When Dilly cottoned on too, she stuck two fingers in her mouth and gave an almighty whistle in appreciation that ricocheted off the walls of the bar, which was deserving of a round of applause in itself.
‘Come on, Danny,’ she called, clapping her hands excitedly.
The rest of them exchanged an anxious glance with each other.
Having seen some terrible acts tonight, in between a couple of good ones, there was a sense of nervous anticipation about what they could expect from Danny.
They had no idea if he would be good, bad or middling, but they were all hoping that he would be able to give at least a half-decent performance to save any embarrassment.
They needn’t have worried though because as soon as Danny strummed the first chords on his guitar and his warm, melodic voice broke into song, none of them could be in any doubt that they were in very safe hands.
This was no newcomer, but an accomplished musician who held the audience rapt with his polished and honest rendition.
He sang a soulful ballad from the sixties and the recognisable refrain had everyone sha-la-la-ing along with him, his eyes casting in Dilly’s direction when he mentioned his brown-eyed girl.
She threw back her head and laughed, totally lost in the moment of the music, her arms moving to the beat.
Next, he played a couple of up-tempo songs, which again were instantly recognisable, and had everyone standing on their feet, clapping and joining in.
When Danny finished his set, he received the biggest applause of the night, and lots of back-slapping when he returned to the table.
‘You dark horse, you!’ said Rob, seeing his work colleague in an entirely different light. ‘You’re wasted in property management, do you know that? That was an excellent performance. Well done, mate.’
‘Cheers.’ Danny seemed to be bewildered by the attention, but he politely responded to everyone’s exclamations and questions about his hidden talents. Dilly moved to sit alongside him and gave him a hug.
‘Honestly, Danny, that was amazing.’ Dilly’s eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed from either the couple of glasses of wine she’d been enjoying or the thrill of the occasion, who could tell? ‘I never knew you were so talented. Do you play in a band or something?’
‘I used to many moons ago, but now I just play for my own enjoyment. When I was a kid, I took piano, guitar and clarinet lessons so a lot of my free time was taken up with practising, when I would have much preferred to be out playing football with my mates. It was a relief when I could give them up, although my parents weren’t very pleased.
I kept on with the guitar because that seemed pretty cool and I thought it might impress the girls, but sometimes, I regret giving up on those other instruments. ’
‘Well, you could always pick them up again if you’re feeling so inclined. It seems a shame not to use those skills when you have what sounds to me like a natural talent. I think you should definitely do some more gigs, though. Everyone here absolutely loved your session.’
‘Yeah, I might just do that. I hadn’t intended to get up there tonight, but it was seeing the other acts, hearing the music, I thought why not give it a go. I didn’t know if I still had it in me, but as soon as I picked up that guitar, it all came flooding back.’
‘Well, I hope you included your musical skills in your dating bio?’
‘What? Nah, I didn’t think to. Besides, I’m done with all that for the time being. I’m more than happy just hanging out with my friends these days. Look at tonight; haven’t we all had a great time?’
‘Too true,’ agreed Dilly, ‘but it might be worth doing next time, if you change your mind and want to go back on the apps. You never know, it might be the thing that swings it. You might find someone who shares a similar interest in music.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind, Dilly,’ he said with a gracious smile.
With the last band of the night taking their encore, people were finishing off their drinks, chatting animatedly and agreeing that it had been a brilliant night, before getting ready to say their goodbyes.
The front door of the pub swung open and Tess saw Hannah and Billy wander in, arm in arm.
If she’d been in any doubt as to whether or not her daughter’s relationship was romantic, and not platonic, then seeing the young couple together, chatting and laughing, only confirmed to her what she’d suspected for a long while: that they were absolutely smitten with each other.
It was the glow to Hannah’s whole demeanour, the way she lit up in Billy’s company that gave it away.
Tess recognised it because it was the same way Rob made her feel.
‘Hello, you two,’ she greeted them. ‘You’ve missed all the entertainment here tonight. It’s been great fun.’
‘Ahh, had I known, I could have done a couple of numbers,’ Billy said with a grin. ‘I can knock out a few tunes on the guitar.’
‘And he’s got a really good voice too,’ Hannah told her mum proudly.
‘There’s always next time, if you fancy it. I think it’s going to be a regular event here. Do you want a drink? There’s still time if you’d like one.’
‘Thanks, but we’ll probably head home too, if that’s what you’re doing.’
With the evening drawing to a close, Tess and Rob took a leisurely walk back to Hollyhocks, while Hannah and Billy went ahead to open up, let Barney out and put the kettle on.
‘I’m still smiling about Danny,’ said Rob. ‘It’s changed my perception of him entirely.’
‘Yeah, he was great; it just goes to show that you can never really know what’s hiding beneath the surface of people: their talents, their hopes, their secrets.’
‘Any weird perversions,’ Rob quipped.
‘Well, I hope not those,’ said Tess with a chuckle.
They fell quiet as they walked up the hill, Tess’s mood thoughtful as she contemplated the events of the evening. Such a life-affirming, positive night, spent with friends, that had filled her with joy and yet there was still something niggling at the back of her mind.
‘Are you sure you’re okay? I can always tell when something is troubling you.’
‘Ah, that’s what I appreciate about you,’ she said, turning to look at him and squeezing his hand.
‘You have such a caring and sensitive side. I don’t think it would have ever occurred to Charles to wonder how I was feeling.
’ She released a huge sigh. ‘Look, I know I shouldn’t let these things get to me, but I had another unsettling conversation with Keith tonight. ’
‘On no, what rubbish is he coming out with now then?’
‘He told me he wanted to apologise for what he’d said earlier, which would have been great if he’d stopped there, but in doing so, he seemed to implicate Gina as well.’
‘What?’ Rob actually stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. ‘You’re kidding, right?’
‘No! He seemed to be suggesting that there might have been something going on between her and Charles.’
‘I don’t understand. When?’
‘Oh, he was talking about years ago, they were both members of the tennis club at one time.’
‘Well, you don’t really believe it, do you?’
‘I don’t know what to believe. It might explain why the pair of them have always hated each other.’
‘I think Keith’s brain is probably addled from years of alcohol abuse and he probably doesn’t know what day of the week it is, let alone what happened several years ago. Do you know what you should do?’
‘What?’
‘You should let it go. Don’t give it another moment’s thought.’ He took her face in his hands. ‘It’s not worth your time or energy. Nothing positive can come from brooding over it.’
‘Yes, you’re probably right.’ She exhaled a sigh and they started walking again. ‘When did you get to be so sensible?’
‘When I realised I’d spent far too long worrying about things that didn’t matter.
You have to concentrate on the important things and while you can’t change the past, you can focus on the present and by doing that, creating the future you want.
Think how far you’ve come and what you’ve already achieved.
Really, Tess, this is only the beginning.
Don’t even glance over your shoulder; just keep looking out towards the horizon. ’